More than 300,000 illegal immigrants who have been ordered deported from the United States remain fugitives, despite a highly publicized initiative launched more than a year ago to locate them.

Included in that group are about 4,800 men from nations where al-Qaeda terrorists are known to be active.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service repeatedly has refused to answer questions from The San Diego Union-Tribune about the number of fugitive immigrants apprehended in various INS districts or about the number of officers assigned to find them.

Last month, the INS sent an e-mail to all of its field offices, instructing them not to give the Union-Tribune the figures it requested. But five INS officers in San Diego, concerned their agency isn't serious about pursuing the fugitives, provided some data.

About 6,000 fugitives are thought to be in San Diego County. But between October 2001 and the end of September 2002, only 68 were located. Fifty-one of them walked into INS offices and surrendered voluntarily. Officers found the other 17.

A similar situation apparently exists in San Francisco where the Union-Tribune was able to obtain some numbers before the INS clamped down on information. Of 18,576 fugitives targeted for capture, only about 185 have been found since May.

"Everyone assumes after 9/11 that we're looking after the security of this country," one of the San Diego officers said. "The truth is nothing has changed." more

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003